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| Bello (right) during the inauguration of the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs at the POEA. (photo: DOLE) |
What a difference a year makes.
On Sept 11, the new secretary of labor, Silvestre Bello III, will come to Hong Kong for a dialogue hosted by United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong.
Just over a year ago, his predecessor, Rosalinda Baldoz, was also in town, but was at the other side of the table with Unifil-Migrante, which has often not seen eye to eye with government’s top labor officials.
Unifil secretary general Eman Villanueva told The SUN Secretary Bello will come at their invitation, so they are the ones arranging for his visit and his itinerary.
A dialogue with Filipino community organizations has been set down from 2-5pm at the University of Hong Kong, but Villanueva says they have other plans for the secretary if his schedule would allow it.
“Gusto namin siyang dalhin sa Chater para makita niya ang tunay na kalagayan ng ng ating mga manggagawa dito,” said Villanueva.
Then, subject to his approval, he could be asked to attend the anniversary celebration of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge on Chater Road, and possibly address the crowd.
During the consultation at HKU, Unifil plans to present the long-standing demands of overseas Filipino workers.
These include the strict implementation of the government’s no placement fee policy, scrapping many of the fees imposed on OFWs, including membership in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, PhilHealth and PagIBIG, and lowering the passport fee and extending its validity.
A key demand, which is the removal of the overseas employment certificate (OEC), has already been met, but Villanueva said his group still wants clarification on the resolution which is due to take effect on Sept. 15.
“Mabuti na lang din at tinanggal na yung OEC, pero gusto namin na wala nang exemption, kasi sabi sa resolution, yun lang babalik sa mga amo sa parehong lugar ang exempted,” said Villanueva.
Another issue they are anxious to discuss with Secretary Bello is the case of former labor attache Manuel Roldan, who was let off lightly by Baldoz after being accused of allowing his driver to operate an employment agency in violation of anti-graft laws.
Roldan was also cited for extending accreditation to 90 new employment agencies, despite a long-standing freeze on the practice.
However, an investigating panel of the Department of Labor and Employment found Roldan guilty only of simple misconduct for widening the scope of the conciliation proceedings at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in violation of department orders.
He was ordered suspended for one month and one day, or pay an amount equivalent to his pay for this period.
The original charges against him, filed after a thorough investigation by the Philippine Consulate General, were for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
